Sanders, Hunter draw more attention as NFL draft approaches

One week from the NFL draft and the teams at the top of the selection order are gearing up to

hopefully change their fortunes by picking one star player. Green Bay, Wisconsin will be the

center of the NFL universe on Thursday, April 24th. And you can consider the Tennessee Titans

on the clock. Unless of course they trade that top pick before 8.15 Eastern time next Thursday

Many believe they'll take Miami quarterback Cam Ward, but that is no sure thing with a new general

manager calling the shots. Whether or not Ward goes number one will affect what the Cleveland

Browns do at number two. They're also in need of a quarterback, but Penn State defensive end

Abdul Carter could be paired up with superstar Miles Garrett to create a monster defense

The pre-draft talk has mostly been dominated by where Colorado star Travis Hunter and his

quarterback Shador Sanders will land. The New England Patriots are not looking for a quarterback

and head coach Mike Brable says best player available is his philosophy

even as high as the fourth pick. You know, I think you're just looking for the best value

and you're trying to find players that are obviously talented and what we feel like are a great fit here for us

and can help our football team at different levels. And so that happens at the top of the draft

That'll happen, you know, in the middle parts. And then obviously as you get towards the end

and there's somebody that you want and you may get or somebody gives you an offer and you know you're trying to get a little bit more draft capital

Does that mean Hunter's going number four? Vrabel would never tip his hand but Hunter would. Last

week he told CBS Sports he quit football if he couldn play both offense and defense in the NFL He excelled doing both while at Colorado and won the Heisman Trophy because of his versatility and playmaking Giants general manager Joe Shane said he be open to Hunter playing both when asked about it Wednesday

But, you know, this guy can do it all. So he's also, you know, he's a great kid

So it'd be hard to keep him off the field and, you know, he's motivated to play both ways

So, you know, again, you're always worried about the length of the season, you know, with the NFL 17 games and training camp

And you're just, if he gets hurt doing something that he's not doing full time, you know, you're going to kick yourself

But he's a unique athlete that I think will be able to do both. Sanders is also on the Giants' radar

he'll hold a private workout for Team Brass on Thursday in Boulder

which is driving speculation that they'll take the quarterback at number three

despite signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency. Sanders has also been linked to the New Orleans Saints

who have the ninth pick in the first round. Hunter and Sanders were also in the spotlight Monday when Colorado announced

they will retire jersey numbers 2 and 12 in a ceremony during this Saturday's spring football game

The honor has some longtime Buffs fans and Colorado football alumni upset that past legends, like those who won a national title in 1990, are being passed over

Coach Prime knows how to hype, that is for sure. That controversy will in no way affect the draft positions of Hunter and Sanders, and a lot can change in one week, anywhere on the board

Until the countdown actually begins, the speculation and vague coaching comments and online debates will continue

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Chris Francis